We caught up with the brilliant and insightful M. Lori Torok a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

M. Lori, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Life is risky.
When you cross a busy street, you take a risk.
When you begin a new relationship, you take a risk.
When you create a new poem—risk.
You move to a new house, a new town, a new job, a new belief system… risk, risk, risk.

But what is the alternative?
To remain unchanged, unmoved, unloving, supposedly safe?
For me, that’s a slow death. That’s decay.

I learned early on that I needed to be on a path of expansion. As a creative being—part of a co-creative universe—I had to become comfortable with risk. To live fully, to be truly engaged with life, we must take risks. Whether it’s the risk of showing up fully, of putting yourself out there, of being vulnerable—or the risk of doing something with no guarantee of success—that is what it means to be alive.

In the mid-1990s, I was living in New York City. I had left my steady waitressing job to perform in a summer stock theatre production. The restaurant managers had promised to hold my position at the hotel, and I trusted them. But when I returned a month later, I discovered they’d been let go. No one had documented our agreement. My job was gone.

I was devastated. The summer stock gig had depleted my funds, and I had nothing to fall back on.

I went home, sat still for a moment, and listened inwardly. A voice rose from within:
Tomorrow, you need to find a job. But are you an unemployed waitress? Or are you an unemployed dancer?
The choice was mine. Either way, I was still unemployed—but who was I really?

I opened the newspaper to check the next day’s auditions and said, “Whatever it is, I will go. No matter what.”
It was a call for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.

I showed up with 400 other women.
I had one dollar and a subway token in my pocket. Nothing more.

Everything changed for me that day.
The risk of showing up for my potential, rather than clinging to what was secure and familiar, became a defining moment in my life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello. It’s nice to meet you, dear reader.

I am an integrative Reiki Master Teacher, Certified Medical Reiki Master (CMRM), and founder of Eloia Healing Arts | Temecula Reiki & Sound Therapy. Drawing on decades of experience in the performative arts, fine arts, and healing arts, I have created a deeply attuned approach to energy work—one that supports the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. My sessions blend the subtle power of Reiki with the vibrational resonance of crystal singing bowls, tuning forks, and other therapeutic sound instruments to help clients release tension, regulate the nervous system, and reconnect with their inner wisdom.

Presently, I am focusing on bridging traditional wellness practices with energy medicine in a way that is grounded, intuitive, and research-informed. This is the purpose of my second book, REIKI IN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE. I am working to create community and shared space for both skeptics and seekers alike.

Whether working with individuals recovering from illness, navigating life transitions, or simply seeking clarity and peace, my work at Eloia Healing Arts provides a sanctuary for rest, renewal, and transformation. At the heart of my work is the belief that healing is not just possible—it is our natural state when we are seen, supported, and gently returned to balance.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?

By most accounts, it’s not recommended to do what I did. But, yes, I did it. I left my full-time tenured college professor position (and all its benefits) to open my Reiki & Sound Healing Center. I cashed out my retirement savings and used the funds to pursue the soulful work that was calling me. It seemed to me that you really can’t do energy work while in debt–because debt is energetic burden. I began (and remain) in positive flow throughout my business. I am blessed.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Reiki and energy healing are fields that develop a following through word of mouth. Those who enjoy their session will want others to experience the work, as well. I approach each session with this in mind. Every client, every session, is my most important one. This work ethic keeps you present and centered in the work, and I think it is felt by those who come to see you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eloiahealingarts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eloia_live/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/temeculareikicenter